Quebec College Of Physicians Already Pushing To Allow Lethal Injection For Children

BY Colin Kerr Tweet QUEBEC, February 17, 2014 ( LifeSiteNews.com ) Even as Quebecs National Assembly prepares for a final vote on its controversial euthanasia bill, which is expected to pass easily, the provinces College of Physicians is calling for expanding the list of those who qualify for a lethal injection. As Quebecers become accustomed to doctors administering lethal injections to dying patients, the questions will not be about who is receiving euthanasia but who is being denied it, said Yves Robert, secretary of the College, according to the National Post. Robert identified two classes of patients who will be excluded from the legislation that should be considered for eligibility: patients suffering from advanced Alzheimers disease and the terminally ill who are under 18 years of age and suffering. We will have to think about that, not only for [incapable] adults but obviously for youngsters who face terminal diseases, he said. Junior Health Minister Veronique Hivon likewise said Bill 52s provisions are really, really restrictive. As Quebec legislators and medical experts have taken Belgiums euthanasia regime as a model, it is no surprise that Quebecers should already find themselves considering allowing euthanasia for children, as Belgium did last week. Another coalition of Quebec doctors had previously warned that the government was opening the door for euthanizing children. Dr. Paul Saba, president of the Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice, stated in December, If the bill is adopted the door will be wide open to euthanize children and persons who are not able to give consent. Nevertheless, there is a strong voice in Canada and in the world at large against the logic at work in Quebec. For instance, the World Medical Association, which represents nine million physicians, has come out against euthanasia. Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, said that the Quebec governments intention from the beginning was to include children and people with dementia. This is not new. The Quebec Human Rights Commission thought that not allowing children to have euthanasia was a form of discrimination. They are trying to open the door with this bill and then it will expand from there.

Family Physicians Group Endorses Congress’ Plan to Overhaul Doc Pay

Mitch McConnell, Rep. Nancy Pelosi andSen. Harry Reid offering its support of the bill, which intends to replace the current systemwith a more incentive-based program that rewards providers who meet performance thresholds, improves care for seniors, and provides certainty for providers. Heres the letter written byJeffrey J. Cain, MD, FAAFP,Board Chair of the AAFP : On behalf of the 110,600 members of the American Academy of Family Physicians, I am pleased to inform you of the AAFPs support for the bipartisan, bicameral SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4015 / S. 2000). We greatly appreciate the extensive work that this legislation represents and call for its immediate passage. Legislators and staff have shown a Herculean effort in crafting this proposal. They solicited and responded to suggestions brought forth by the physician community and other stakeholders and included many in this final product. The AAFP urges Congress to pass this measure before March 31, when the current extension of the Medicare payment formula that includes the Sustainable Growth Rate ( SGR ) expires. Above all else, H.R. 4015 / S. 2000 repeals the Medicare SGR.